Machine for applying fluids to surfaces.



No. 826,897. PATENTED JULY 24, 1906. R. W. SHELY.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING FLUIDS TO SURFACES. APPLICATION FILED APR.17.1905.

6 6Mw I NI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD SHELY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

. MACHINE FO'R APPLYING FLUIDS TO SUB FACES- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2 i, 1906:

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, RICHARD W. SHELY, of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Applying Fluids to Surfaces; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

ThlS invention is an improved machine for appying liquids to floors or, floor-surfaces, and is especially designed for distributing soap-water or lye u on floors previous to scrubbing them, and 1s particularly useful in large buildings where there is a great area of floor-space to be scrubbed.

This machine is adapted to distribute the water or cleansing flllld uniformly over the floors without the fluid becoming fouled before being applied.

The invention comprises, in brief, a tank or receptacle for the fluid mounted upon wheels, a distributing-pi e connected with .this tank and located ad acent to the floor,

valve mechanism for regulatingthe flow of said fluid into said distributing-pipe, and

means, preferably a roller, for receivlng fluid from said distributing-pipe and applying the same upon the surface of the floor.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred form of the machine and y will describe the invention with reference thereto andrefer to the claims for summa- Y ries of the essential features and parts of the invention for which protection is desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side .elevation of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 isan end'view,

partly in section; and Fig. 4 is a detail of the valve-operating devices. I

A designates a tank of any suitable dimensions, preferably constructed of metal and provided with trunnions a, by which it 1s supported upon wheels 0/. This tankhas a handle B, provided with handieces b, by.

which it can be readily manipu ated by the operator. The tank can be filled through an opening in the to closed by a cover A. Located beneath t e tank is a distributingpipe C, which has a series of openings 0 in its top, communicating, through ni ples c, with the lower art of the tank. 0 ni ples o are c'losabie by'stopple-valves D wit 1n the tank and pivotally connected to arms e on a rock-shaft E, extending longitudinally through the tank, said shaft projecting outside of the tank at one end througha suitably-closed aperture in the end thereof. By means of rock-shaft E the valves D may be simultaneously raised or lowered, so as to 0 en or close the nipple c, and thus admit t e fluid to or shut it off from the pipe C.

Shaft E is controllable to 0 en or close the valve by-means of a rod F, t e lower end of which is pivotally connected to an arm e on shaft E, and its upper end is connected to one end of a hand-lever f, ivoted at f on the handle, so that it can e convemently operated by the thumb or hand of the operator moving the machine. A s ring f may be arranged to normally hold t e hand-lever in position to keep the valves closed. This spring may be located at an other suitable point where it will act to old the valves closed.

The pipe C has numerous perforations c in its bottom, through which the fluid esca es onto the applyin device G, which in t 's instance is prefera 1y a roller or cylinder extending from the distributingipe O to the floor and adapted to receive uidfrom the distributing-pipe and a ply it in a thin uniform la er onto the iibor or surface over which t e machine is moved. The roller G is located inadvance of the axes of thewheels,

so as to partly support the tank.

The roller G is rovided with trunnions g, which are journa ed in bracketsg, which may be attached to an adjacent art of themachine or to the end of the distributingpipe C, as shown. Preferably within the distributin -pi e C is placed a cylindrical valve H, w lnc is rovided with openings h in its upper side, a apted to register with the o enings' c in the distributing-pipe 0 when t e valve H is in one position. Said valve is also provided with perforations h, adapted to register with the erforations c in pipe 0 when the openings register with the opening 0. By moving the valve H longitudinally or axially the openings may be thrown out of roe register, and'thus the valve H can be used to control the supply of water onto the roller G in combination with or inde endently of the valves D. I prefer to employ both sets of controlling means,but do not wish to limit myself thereto.

I prefer to o erate valve H by rotating it on its axis, an for this pu ose the valve is provided with a trunnion on one end, which projects through one end of pipe 0 jecting end of shaft E, the connections being such that when shaft E is rocked to open valves D it simultaneously causes valve H to rock, so as to bring the openings therein into register with the o enings in the pipe C, and consequently the fluid passes freely and in a well-distributed manner to the roller G, and when the shaft E is rocked, so as to close the valves D, valve His simultaneouslyrocked, so as to cut its openings out of register with the openings in the pipe C.

The distributing device G enables the water or fluid to be spread evenly and uniformly over the floor or surface instead of being de'' osited in streams thereover and insures the iquid contacting with every part of the floor without necessitating the use ofan oversupply of liquid thereon, and thus prevents the waste of liquid-and overdeposits-thereof on the floors.

I prefer to use theroller as above stated, but do not wish to be restricted thereto, except where I may specifically mention it in the, claims.

While particularly adapted for moistening floors, the machine may also be used forap- )lying oils, paints, varnishes, &c., on suriaces to be covered thereby, and I do not limit myself to its use for cleansing purposes only.

Having thus described my v invention, what I claim as new, and desireto-secure'by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination, a wheeled tank,.a perforated distributing ipe thereunder communicating therewit ,'.a series of valves Within the tank adapted to close communicationbetween-the tank and said distributing-pipe; a rock-shaft provided with arms connected to said valves, and means for regulating said shaft controllable by the hand of the operator; with a distributing device adaptedto receive liquid from said distributing-pipe and apply it to the surface over which the machine is moved.

2. In combination, a liquid-holding tank, a perforated distributing-pipe thereunder communicatin r therewith, a tubular valvewithin said distri uting-pipe having perforations and openin s adapte to register with the inletand oufiet of the said pipe; and a rockshaft and connections for actuating said .valve so as to open or close the water-passages through said distributing pipe; with a distributing roller adapted to receive water from said distributing-pipe andapplyit to the floor.

3. In combination, a wheeled tank,a cylindrical distributing-pipe and communicating with the tank through a series of openings and having a series of perforations, in its bottom; valves within the tank closing said openings; and a rock-sha t for operating said valves anda hand-l-everyand connections for rocking said shaft; and a distributing device ada 1 ted to receive fluid fromsaid pipe and app y it to the floor.

4. In combination, a wheeled tank, a cylindrical distributing-pi e thereunder, communicating with the tan through a seriesof openingsand having a series of perforations in its bottom; a series of valves within the tank closing said openings; a rock-shaft and connections for o ening and closing the valves; a cylindrica tubular valve within said pipe; a connection between said rock-shaft and said tubular valve for operatin the latter; and a distributing device adapte to receive fluid from said pipe and apply it to the floor.

5'. In a machine for applying fluids -to floors, the combination of a tank having valved fluid-outlets, anda valve mechanism for simultaneously opening and closingthe valves of said outlets; .with a longitudinal roller disposed beneath the-tank, and: located in advance of the axes of the Wheelswas to partly support the tank, said roller being adapted to receive fluid from the. outlets and apply the same to the floor.

6. In combination, a wheeled tank adapted to be propelled by hand, fluid-outlets in the lower part of the tank, valves closing said outlets, a hand-controlled valve mechanism for simultaneously opening and closing said outlet-valves; anda longitudinal roller disposed beneath the-tank,,and locateddnadvance of, the axes of the wheels,.so as to partly supportthe tank, said roller being adapted to receive fluid from-the. outlets andapplythe same to the floor.

7. In combination,,a-wheeledta k a distributing-pipe connected therewith.- provided with perforations, valvesfor regulating the passa e of liquidtoand-from said. pipe, and a distri uting-roller located in advance ofthe axes of the wheels, and adapted-topartly support the tank, said roller receivingthe liquid from said distributin pipe and ap lying it to the surface over-wiich-the mac he is moved.

8. In combination, a wheeled tank adapted to contain liquid and provided-with liquidoutlets-in its bottom, a perforated distributing-pipe communicatin with said outlets, valves forlcontrolling t e passage of.liquid through said distributingipe, andvalve-operatingmeans controllable by the handof the operator; with a distributing-roller located in advance of the axes of the wheels, .and adapted to artlvsupport the tank, said roller receiving 'quid from said distributin pipe and applying it'to the surface overwhifii the machine moves.

9. In combination, a wheeled tank, a perforated distributing-pipe thereunder, communicating therewith, valve mechanism .-to close communication between the tank and said distributingpipe; andmeanssfor re ulating saidvalve mechanism controllable by the hand of the operator; and a distributingroller located in advance of the axes of the wheels, and adapted to partly support the tank, said roller receiving liquid from said distributing-pipe and applying it to the surface over which the machine is moved.

10. In combination, a liquid-holding tank, a perforated distributing-pipe communicating therewith, a tubular valve within said distributing-pipe having perforations and openings adapted to register with the inlet and outlet of the said pipe; and means for actuating said valve so as to open or close the water-passages through said distributing-pipe; with a distributing-roller adapted to partly support the tank and to receive liquid from isiaid distributing-pipe and apply it to the oor.

11. In combination, a tank, outlet-valves, a perforated distributing-pipe connected with said outlet-valves, a tubular valve in said pipe for regulating the passage of liquid to and from said pipe, and a distributing device receiving the liquid from said distributing-pipe and applying it to the surface over which the machine is moved.

12. In combination, a tank providedwith outlets in its bottom, valves controlling the outlets, a perforated distributing-pipe communicating with said outlets, a tubular valve in said pipe controlling the passage of liquid thereto and therefrom, and a distributing device adapted to receive liquid from said distributing-pipe and apply it to the surface over which the machine moves.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I'affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD W. SHELY. 

